HICKTON PROVIDES CLERK OF WORKS SERVICES AT HOSPITAL

Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has chosen South Yorkshire-based
Hickton to provide Clerk of Works services on its new MRSA
laboratory at Leeds General Infirmary.

The company has provided its services to the Trust for many years
and was therefore able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of
the project requirements

The Trust commissioned the services of a specialist Clerk of Works
practice because it is an excellent way of maintaining the very
highest standards expected on these types of schemes.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals has numerous projects, each of which has
its own specific requirements, and is delivered by a team of project
managers and architects. However, as members of the team have
responsibility across a variety of schemes, Hickton’s Clerks of
Works ensure that all parties are kept fully informed of quality
issues on individual sites.

The Hickton Clerk of Works acts as the eyes and ears of the Trust,
managers and architects, ensuring they are kept fully informed and
that the projects reached planned outcomes.

“All hospital building projects have to be right first time in terms
of quality and timescales,” explained Terry Harrison, Clerk of Works
at Hickton. “A hospital has to remain operational 24/7 and so it is
vital to ensure effective harmonization of all parties involved on
site.”

Hickton’s Clerks of Works provided weekly reports to the Trust,
hospital project manager and architect on the Leeds General
Infirmary MRSA laboratory project. As well as updating them on
issues of quality and progress, it highlighted issues with
individual trades, along with any supplier issues. The project was
completed on time and to budget.

Day to day activities carried out by Hickton included site meetings,
technical inspection, handover and snagging, which is crucial on
upgrades or refurbishments. This involved Hickton working closely
with the main contractor, as well as all subcontractors on the MRSA
laboratory project.

Terry Harrison continues: “A hospital is not like any other
construction project in that it can never be shut down like an
office block refurbishment. Keeping the building fully functional
whilst work is carried out therefore requires a huge amount of
co-ordination and teamwork, which is why a Clerk of Works is
essential.”

The highly complex nature of modern healthcare developments and the
very highest standards required by hospitals means that the role of
the Clerk of Works can only be provided by the most experienced
people. All Hickton’s Clerks of Works have years of experience in
the construction industry, with many specialising in healthcare
projects.

Hickton is also currently providing Clerk of Works services on the
refurbishment of the Histopathology and Endoscopy departments at St
James’s University Hospital in Leeds.